One- vs. five-session treatment of dental phobia: a randomized controlled study

Forty participants fulfilling the DSM-IV criteria for dental phobia were randomly assigned to a waitlist group, one-session or five-session exposure treatment. Assessment occurred pre-, post-waitlist/treatment, and after 1 year. Mean avoidance of dental care before treatment was 11.4 years. A total of 77% sought dental care in the follow-up year. Both treatments were equally effective at reducing avoidance behavior and changing cognitions during the feared situation. Post-treatment, the five-session group scored lower on the dental anxiety scales, but at follow-up, both groups reported the same level of dental anxiety. Conclusion: Both treatment conditions enable a return to ordinary dental treatment.